Lampholder



R. BQTHOMAS LAMPHOLDER 2 Sheets-Shoot 1 INVENT OR.

5 MM H N EN M B U m C A m Oct. 21, 1958 I Filed Jufie 5, 1956 Oct. 21,1958 R. B. THOMAS LAMPHOLDER 2 sheets sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1956INVENTOR. RALPH B. THOMAS 6 ATTORNEY 2,857,578 Patented Oct; 21, 1958LAMPHOLDER Ralph B. Thomas, Salem, Mass., assignor to Sy lvania ElectricProducts Inc., Salem, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationJune 5, 1956, Serial No. 589,487 Claims. (Cl. 33955) This inventionrelates to holders for elongated electric gaseous discharge deviceshaving an electrode at each end thereof. More particularly, thisinvention relates to lampholders for fluorescent lamps.

Certain types of electric gaseous discharge devices, such as fluorescentlamps for example, are provided with a base at each end thereof.Lead-wires extending from each end of the lamp are suitably secured inthe base, and electrical contact therewith is established through alampholder. The lampholder also serves as a means for supporting thelamp. In view thereof, the lampholder must provide positive electricalcontact and insure adequate support for-the lamp. In addition thereto,the electrical contact members in the lampholder should be located sothat there is no danger of accidental electrical shock. Since certaintypes of lamp bases are provided with means for partially enclosing theelectrical contact members thereof to prevent the danger of accidentalelectrical shock, one of the objects of this invention is to provide alampholder which may be employed with this type of base as well as withbases in which the electrical contact members thereof are not soenclosed.

These and other objects, advantages and features are obtained, inaccordance with the principles of this in vention by providing alampholder housing with a block disposed in an opening in the front facethereof. The block is provided with a pair of bores which are inregister with a pair of bores of smaller diameter in a boss on the frontface of the block. A pair of coiled springs extend into the bores of theblock, the ends of the springs which are disposed within the bores beingprovided with a pairof resilient sleeves which are disposed within thebores of the boss and which receive the base pins on the end of a lamp.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanyingdrawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp supported by thelampholders of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a lampholder having a movableblock disposed in the lampholder housing.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View of a lampholder having astationary block disposed in the lampholder housing.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the lampholder of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the lampholder of Figure 2 and the endof a lamp with which it is associated, portions of the lampholder andthe lamp base being shown in section to illustrate more clearly themanner in which they cooperate with one another.

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the lampholder of Figure 4 and the endof a lamp with which it is associated, portions of the lampholder andthe lamp base being shown in section to illustrate more clearly themanner in which they cooperate with one another.

the lampholder ing across the top Figure 8 is a side elevational view,partly in section, of the lampholder of Figure 2 showing the dispositionof the movable block during positioning of a lamp.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figure 1 thereof, a lamp 1having a base 2 disposed on one end thereof and a base 4 disposed 'onthe other end thereof, is supported by lampholders 6 and 8 attached to abase 10.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the lampholder 6 shown thereincomprises a housing 12 having an opening 14 therein within which asubstantially cylindrical block 16 is disposed, and a cover plate 18attached to housing 12 by screw 20. The block 16 is provided with a pairof bores 22. A boss 24 on the front face of the block 16 is providedwith apair of bores 26 which are in register with the bores 22. A pairof coiled springs 28, disposed within the opening 14 and extending intothe bores 22, are provided with a pair of resilient sleeves 30 which aredisposed in the pair of bores 26 in boss 24. The bores 26 are smaller indiameter than the bores 22. To facilitate the positioning of an end of alamp on the lampholder 6, as will be described more fully below, the topsurface of the block 16 is tapered to providea clearance 34 (Fig. 3).The inner wall of the housing 12 which defines the opening 14 therein isprovided with a pair of channels 36 within which studs 38 on block 16are disposed, thereby preventing rotation of the block within thelampholder housing. Each of the coiled spring 28 is supported at one endthereof on a rim 40 formed in a face of metal plate 42 at one endthereof, the other end of metal plate 42 being provided with a screw 44to which suitable lead-wires from a source of electrical energy may beconnected. The inside face of the cover plate 18 of the lampholder issuitably molded to support the metal plates 42 therein.

The block 16 of the lampholder 6 is reciprocable within which the studs38 are disposed. block 16' of lampholder 8 (Figures 4 and 5) is madestationary by making the channels 36' substantially shorter thanchannels36 in lampholder 6 and providing coiled springs 28 which will befully compressed when cover plate 18' is secured to housing 12' by screw20'.

As was mentioned above,'one of the objects of this invention is toprovide a lampholder which may be employed with lamps having partiallyenclosed contact members on their bases, as well as with lamps which donot have the base contact members so enclosed. The lamp illustrated inthe accompanying drawings is of the former type@ The lamp 1 is endthereof of the type shown in my co-pending application Serial No.589,488 entitled Lamp Base filed on June 5, .1956. Eachof the bases 2(Fig. 6) and 4 (Fig. 7) comprises a shell 46 within which a disk ofinsulating material is secured, the disk being provided with a boss 48of insulating material. The boss 48 is provided with a central openingtherein de ng a pocket 50 within which base pins 52 are disposed and aslot 54 extending across the top of the boss.

Installation of a lamp 1 in its lampholders (Fig. 1) is effected byfirst positioning the base 2 on the lampholder 6. As was mentionedabove, the block 16 of lampholder 6 is tapered to provide a clearance 34(Figs. 2 and 3). Thus, as is shown in Figure 8, the lamp 1 maybedisposed at an angle to the horizontal as the boss 48 on'the lamp base 2is moved into encompassing relationship with respect to the boss 24 onblock 16 of lampholder 6, the boss 24 being tiltable within thelimitsprovided by the clearance 34. The slot 54 extendof boss 48 of base2 also facilitates positioning of the lamp 1 on the lampholder 6 becauseit On the other hand,

provided with a base at each 3 permits initial engagement of the boss,48 with the boss 2.410 be,,madelfromithe-side as well as end-on.

After. thelboss. 48. of. base 2 hasbeenpositioned on-the l. Atlampholderfor a lamp havinga pair. of base. pins extending from;-anend thereof,said ,lampholderucomprising: a housing having anopeningiin afacethereof; ablo ck disposed withinsaid 'openin'g, said blockhav ng apair of bores extending therethrough; means, vfor, re taining said blockwithin saidjopeningaa boss,- on; the:

front face of said block, saidboss having a pair oi-bores extendingtherethrough and in register, with said ,bores in said'block; a pair of;coiled springs disposed within said housing and extendingjntosaidboresin saidblock; a pair of resilient sleeves, disposed within-saidbores:

insaidboss and attached .totheends of said coiled springs, disposedwithinsaidbores in. saidwblock, for receiving,

the basepins extending from (an end1of alampyand means through which theotherends of said coiled springs maybe connected to'a source ,ofpelectricalienergy.

2. A lampholder for a lamp hayingapairof basepins extending froni, anendithereof, said; lampholder com,

prising; a housing having anopening; :ima face thereof and apair ofchannels formed in-,the;,si de;wall of said housing defining, .saidopening and extend ng .from front to rear, thereof; a block disposed:within 1 said opening,

said blockhaving I a pair of studs, projecting-.itherefromand extending.,-,into said channels andgaupain of.boresextending therethrough; a bosson the-.front face of said block,- i 1-;b0ss,- hay ng atpairz of boresextending therethrough and-in register with, saidrbores insaidblock; apairofco led;:$plil1gS:disposed,within' said housing and tend n -in o vcoiled springs may be connected to atsourceof electricall-i boresinsaidblockya pair of resilient sleeves, disposediwithinz said boresin- -said-boss and attached to .the ends, ofi-jsaidscoiledsprings I disposedwithin extending frorn an endlof a =la'mpg-"and means through whichthetpther endsiofi. said coiled-springs maybe-comnected ito a source ofelectrical energy-r 3. A; lampholder for .a larnp having apair-offbase-pins:

extending froman endrthereofl said lampholder com- P 'iSingL' a housinghaving an opening in-a facethereof;

a block ,disposedwithin said- -opening, sai'd *block'having a pair; ofbores extending "therethroughj means for refront face of-saidblock, saidboss-havinga pair of;bores extending: therethrough and-in-register-withsaid bores in.saidblock, saidqbores-insaid boss; being of .smaller.diameterthansaid bores-in saidiblock; ,a' pair of coiled springsdisposed-within said -housingyand extending into;

said sb'ores in said blockg-a pair pf-resilient'sleeves, ,dis-

posed within said-boresin-saidboss 'andpattached to the ends; of said:coiled *springs disposed 'within said bores in said block, forreceiving, the base pins extending ;from

an end -of-a' lamp; andameans through. which the ,other:

ends of; said coiled springs may be connectedtoa source of electricalenergy.

4.;A-glampholder for a lamp. having a;-pair,,of-base-.

pins extending from an end thereof, said lampholder;

and extending;intotsaid channels and;aipaireoftlaores ex tendingtherethrough; a boss on the front face of said block, said boss havinga-pair of bores extending-there= through and in register with said boresin said block, said bores in said boss being of smaller diameter thansaid bores in said block; a pair of coiled springs disposed within saidhousing and extending into said bores in said block; a pair of resilientsleeves, disposed within said bores in said boss and attached to theends of said coiled springs disposed within said' boresin said block,for receiving the, base pins extendingtrom anrend' of a lamp; and meansthroughywhichthe other endswof'saidicoiled springs may be connected to asource of electrical energy.

5. A lampholder. for a lamp vhaving a pairflof base pins extending froman end thereof, said lampholder comprising: a housinghaving.an;opening-in a face thereof; a block disposed within said opening, said blockbeing provided with a clearance with respect to the opening within whichit is disposed, and said block being further 'provided with a pair of.bores extending therethr0ugh',i,

means for retaining said block within said lopeningy a boss on thefrontv face of said block, said boss-having, a pair of bores extendingtherethrough and in register with said boresin said block;,a pair. ofooiledfspringsdid,

posed within said-housing and extending .intosaid bores. in said block;a pair' of resilient sleeves, disposedawithin said boresin saidboss andattached to theends ofysaid'c. coiledflspringsidisposed within saidbores .insaid block, for receiving the base pins extending fromanend-of: a lamp; andvmeans through whichthe other ends ofsaidq energy. a

6. A lampholdenfora .lamp havingqa-pairi of base p1ns;.:

extending from an end thereof, said lampholder: com-:

prising; a housing having an openingirea-iacefithereoiia and a pairof-channels=formed-inrthesideg-wall.ofssaidc. housing defining; saidopening and extending fromi front .4 to rear thereof; ablockdisposed\within saidaopening 'l .said :block being providedvwith a clearance,with respect;

to the opening within which itgis: dis'posed,;:andmsaid2block1, having apair of studs projectingitherefrom:and::extending i into said channels,and a ,pair'of horeszextendingstherea through; a'boss onthe1frontface.of;saidi block, SillzbOSSl having a ;pair of bores:extendinggtherethrough v andrint V register, with-saidbores in said:bloclc; a :pair' of; coiled springs disposed :within said;ht'msing-sand:v extending into said bores in said block; a pairseoiiresilientsleeves; disposed within said bores. in. said ibossand-attached toathe' ends' of said coiled springs; disposed withinzsaid'bores =i1r=said=- oc f0r1receiving1thebase=pins extendinga from an end"ofga lamp; and means -through. which :theao'therends of said coiledsprings may be connected to asource'ofi' electrical; energy.

7. A lampholder for a lampnhavingea pair ofbasepins extending .r from:an end: thereof, said lampholder comprising: a housing having an openingin-a face thereof; a block. disposedwithin said opening, said blockbeing providd with a..clearancewith respectto the opening within whichit is disposed, and said block being further? providedwith a pair-ofbores-extending th'erethrough;

means for retaining said block Within said opening-andpreventingrtrotation therein; a bosson-the front face'of saidjrblocksaid boss having a pair of -bores extending;

therethrough and in register with said bores in said block;- a pairzofcoiled springs disposed within saidhousing and extending into said boresin said block; a pair of resilient sleeves, disposed within said boresin said boss att-achedto: theendsof'saidcoiled springs disposed withinsaidbores in said:block,-for receiving the base pins extend-.

ing from.:an end of a lamp; andmeans through-which the other ends ofsaid coiledsprings'may be'connected to a source of-electrical energy;

8.' 'A-:.lampholderfor a vlamp havingqa base securedi to ;anend-thereof, in which thebase includes a pairfofif' base pins anda bosshaving a'central opening definingg;

a pocket within which the base pins are disposed, said lampholdercomprising: a housing having an opening in a face thereof; a blockdisposed within said opening, said block having a pair of boresextending therethrough; means for retaining said block within saidopening; a boss on the front face of said block, said boss having a pairof bores extending therethrough and in register with said bores in saidblock, and said boss fitting into said central opening in said boss onsaid base; a pair of coiled springs disposed within said housing andextending into said bores in said block; a pair of resilient sleeves,disposed within said bores in said boss and attached to the ends of saidcoiled springs disposed within said bores in said block, for receivingthe base pins disposed within said pocket in said boss on said base; andmeans through which the other ends of said coiled springs may beconnected to a source of electrical energy.

9. A lampholder for a lamp having a base secured to an end thereof, inwhich the base includes a pair of base pins and a boss having a centralopening defining a pocket within which the base pins are disposed, saidlampholder comprising: a housing having an opening in a face thereof anda pair of channels formed in the side wall of said housing defining saidopening and extending from front to rear thereof; a block disposedwithin said opening, said block having a pair of studs projectingtherefrom and extending into said channels, and a pairof bores extendingtherethrough; a boss on the front face of said block, said boss having apair of bores extending therethrough and in register with said bores insaid block, and said boss fitting into said central opening in said bosson said base; a pair of coiled springs disposed within said housing andextending into said bores in said block; a pair of resilient sleeves,disposed within said bores in said boss and attached to the ends of saidcoiled springs disposed within said bores in said block, for receivingthe base pins disposed within said pocket in said boss on said base; andmeans through which the other ends of said coiled springs may beconnected to a source of electrical energy.

10. A lampholder for a lamp having a base secured to an end thereof, inwhich the base includes a pair of base pins and a boss having a centralopening defining a pocket within which the base pins are disposed, saidlampholder comprising: a housing having an opening in a face thereof; ablock disposed within said opening, said block being provided with avclearance with respect to the opening within which it is disposed, andsaid block being further provided with a pair of bores extendingtherethrough; means for retaining said block within said opening; a bosson the front face of said block, said boss having a pair of boresextending therethrough and in register with said bores in said block,and said boss fitting into said central opening in said boss on saidbase; a pair of coiled springs disposed within said housing andextending into said bores in said block, a pair of resilient sleeves,disposed within said bores in said boss and attached to the ends of saidcoiled springs disposed within said bores in said block, for receivingthe base pins disposed within said pocket in said boss on said base; andmeans through which the other ends of said coiled springs may beconnected to a source of electrical energy.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,695,388 Pistey Nov. 23, 1954 2,716,738 Pistey Aug. 30, 1955 2,716,739Lemmers Aug. 30, 1955

